World War II: Second Battle of El Alamein World War II: Second Battle of El Alamein World War II: Second Battle of El Alamein Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration Second Battle of El Alamein - Conflict: The Second Battle of El Alamein was fought during World War II . Armies & Commanders: The fighting at Second El Alamein raged from October 23, 1942 until November 5, 1942. Second Battle of El Alamein - Background: In the wake of its victory at the Battle of Gazala (May-June, 1942), Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Panzer Army Africa pressed British forces back across North Africa. Retreating to within 50 miles of Alexandria, General Claude Auchinleck was able to stop the Italo-German offensive at El Alamein in July . A strong position, the El Alamein line ran 40 miles from the coast to the impassable Quattara Depression. While both sides paused to rebuild their forces, Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Cairo and decided to make command changes.

Auchinleck was replaced as Commander-in-Chief Middle East by General Sir Harold Alexander , while the 8th Army was given to Lieutenant General William Gott. Before he could take command, Gott was killed when the Luftwaffe shot down his transport. As a result, command of the 8th Army was assigned to Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery. Moving forward, Rommel attacked Montgomery's lines at the Battle of Alam Halfa (August 30-September 5) but was repulsed. Choosing to take a defensive stance, Rommel fortified his position and placed over 500,000 mines, many of which were anti-tank types. Second Battle of El Alamein - Monty's Plan: Due to the depth of Rommel's defenses, Montgomery carefully planned his assault. The new offensive called for infantry to advance across the minefields (Operation Lightfoot) which would allow engineers to open two routes through for the armor. After clearing the mines, the armor would reform while the infantry defeated the initial Axis defenses. Across the lines, Rommel's men were suffering from a severe lack of supplies and fuel. With the bulk of German war materials going to the Eastern Front , Rommel was forced to rely on capture Allied supplies.

His health failing, Rommel took leave to Germany in September. Second Battle of El Alamein - The Allies Attack: On the night of October 23, 1942, Montgomery began a heavy 5-hour bombardment of the Axis lines. Behind this, 4 infantry divisions from XXX Corps advanced over the mines (the men did not weigh enough to trip the anti-tank mines) with the engineers working behind them. By 2:00 AM the armored advance began, however progress was slow and traffic jams developed. The assault was supported by diversionary attacks to the south. As dawn approached, the German defense was hampered by the loss of Rommel's temporary replacement, Lieutenant General Georg Stumme, who died of a heart attack. Taking control of the situation, Major-General Ritter von Thoma coordinated counterattacks against the advancing British infantry. Though their advance was bogged down, the British defeated these assaults and the first major tank engagement of the battle was fought. Having opened a six mile wide and five mile deep inroad into Rommel's position, Montgomery began shifting forces north to inject life into the offensive.

Over the next week, the bulk of the fighting occurred in the north near a kidney-shaped depression and Tel el Eisa. Returning, Rommel found his army stretched with only three days of fuel remaining. Moving divisions up from the south, Rommel quickly found that they lacked the fuel to withdraw, leaving them exposed in the open. On October 26, this situation worsened when Allied aircraft sank a German tanker near Tobruk. Despite Rommel's hardships, Montgomery continued to have difficulty breaking through as Axis anti-tank guns mounted a stubborn defense. Two days later, Australian troops advanced northwest of Tel el Eisa towards Thompson's Post in an attempt to break through near the coast road. On the night of October 30, they succeeded in reaching road and repelled numerous enemy counterattacks. Second Battle of El Alamein - Rommel Retreats: After assaulting the Australians again with no success on November 1, Rommel began to concede that the battle was lost and began planning a retreat 50 miles west to Fuka. At 1:00 AM on November 2, Montgomery launched Operation Supercharge with the goal of forcing the battle into the open and reaching Tel el Aqqaqir.

Attacking behind an intense artillery barrage, the 2nd New Zealand Division and the 1st Armored Division met stiff resistance, but forced Rommel to commit his armored reserves. In the resulting tank battle, the Axis lost over 100 tanks. His situation hopeless, Rommel contacted Hitler and asked for permission to withdraw. This was promptly denied and Rommel informed von Thoma that they were to stand fast. In assessing his armored divisions, Rommel found that fewer than 50 tanks remained. These were soon destroyed by British attacks. As Montgomery continued to attack, entire Axis units were overrun and destroyed opening a 12-mile hole in Rommel's line. Left with no choice, Rommel ordered his remaining men to begin retreating west. On November 4, Montgomery launched his final assaults with the 1st, 7th, and 10th Armored Divisions clearing the Axis lines and reaching open desert. Lacking sufficient transportation, Rommel was forced to abandon many of his Italian infantry divisions. As a result, four Italian divisions effectively ceased to exist.

Aftermath The Second Battle of El Alamein cost Rommel around 2,349 killed, 5,486 wounded, and 30,121 captured. In addition, his armored units effectively ceased to exist as a fighting force. For Montgomery, the fighting resulted in 2,350 killed, 8,950 wounded, and 2,260 missing, as well as around 200 tanks permanently lost. A grinding battle that was similar to many fought during World War I, the Second Battle of El Alamein turned the tide in North Africa in favor of the Allies. Pushing west, Montgomery drove Rommel back to El Agheila in Libya. Pausing to rest and rebuild his supply lines, he continued to attack in mid-December and pressed the German commander into retreating again. Joined in North Africa by American troops, who had landed in Algeria and Morocco, Allied forces succeeded in evicting the Axis from North Africa on May 13, 1943.

Selected Sources World War 2 Events of 1942 World War 2 Events of 1942 World War 2 Events of 1942 With the Americans now on board, the Allies went on the offensive with the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. There are a total of (360) entries in the World War 2 Events of 1942. Entries are listed below by earliest date to latest date. January 1st - July 31st Some 800,000 of Leningrad's citizens are evacuated through the frozen passage above Lake Lagoda. January 1st - January 31st 1942 Over the course of the month, three Soviet armies, under the command of Major-General D.T. Kozlov, are called to the newly created "Crimea Front". January 1st The German U-boat fleet now numbers some 331 operational vessels. January 1st - March 1st 1942 Off the east coast of the United States, some 216 vessels fall prey to the German U-boat scourge in this span.

January 7th Along the Volkhov Front to the south of Novgorod, the Soviets launch a major offensive. January 7th 1942 With progress over the Germans being made on several fronts, Soviet forces launch another offensive to try and encircle Army Group Centre. January 9th The Japanese begin their offensive against the dug-in American forces on the Bataan Peninsula. January 11th Three Japanese amphibious forces take on the Dutch East Indies. January 11th Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaya, falls to the invading Japanese 5th Division. January 15th Japanese forces invade Burma beginning their assault at Victoria Point. January 19th 1942 The Japanese Army makes short work of the light British defenses, covering some 230 miles in reaching Tavoy. January 23rd The American defensive lines finally break. January 25th 1942 The Soviet movement begins losing steam after consecutive weeks of fighting. Man and machine are beginning to show their limitations. February 2nd Adolph Hitler approves of the order for retreat for German forces at Rostov. February 5th Rostov is officially abandoned by General Manstein's forces.

February 6th German General Manstein meets with Hitler and proposes a new German counter-attack against the Russians. February 8th The Soviet Army officially retakes the Russian city of Kursk. February 12th German Army Group Don is renamed Army Group South. February 12th German Army Group B is renamed Army Group Center. February 14th By this time, the Japanese have captured Borneo, Celebes and Sarawak. February 14th RAF Bomber Command issues its "Area Bombing Directive", allowing the legitimate bombing of civilian areas. February 14th - February 18th 1942 Street fighting begins between the German I SS Panzer Corps and the Russian 3rd Tank Army and 40th Army forces in Kharkov. February 14th Russian General Vatutin and his South-West Front army reach the city of Kharkov. February 15th 1942 Singapore eventually falls to the might of the Japanese assault resulting in the capture of some 60,000 Allied prisoners against the cost of 2,000 Japanese soldiers.

February 17th Adolph Hitler meets with General Manstein to plan a German counter-offensive. February 18th German forces are officially driven from the Russian city of Kharkov. February 19th 1942 The Japanese 1st Air Fleet conducts a surprise attack on Allied ships at Broome and Darwin. Twelve ships are sunk in the assault. February 20th 1942 The Germans unleash their counterattack using the 4th Panzer Amry, 1st Panzer Army and the II SS Panzer Corps. February 28th 1942 The Germans recapture lost ground and push elements of the Russian Army back. The German army reaches as far in as the River Donets while General Vatutin's forces are surrounded. March 1st The Avro Lancaster heavy bomber is inducted into RAF service. March 1st - April 30th Hitler and his commanders flesh out Operation Blue - in invasion of the oil-rich, Russian-held Caucasus. March 1st - March 30th The whole Soviet 2nd Shock Army is lost near Novgorod.

March 1st - March 30th The Soviet offensive near Novgorod is stopped by German ground and air elements. March 7th 1942 German General Hoth and his 4th Panzer Army form up and launch an offensive against the Voronezh Front near Kharkov. March 8th Japanese forces, numbering two battalions strong, land at Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea. March 8th The British Burma Army escapes anhilation in Burma. March 8th Rangoon, Burma falls to the Japanese. March 8th 1942 By this date, the Japanese capture the Dutch East Indies with the occupations of Bali, Timor and Java. March 8th Street fighting throughout Kharkov erupts once more as German forces enter Kharkov. March 14th The 4th Panzer Army surrounds the city of Kharkov. March 18th The Germans complete the retaking of Kharkov. March 18th - March 26th 1942 The Soviets and Germans both dig in within and around the city of Kharkov, preparing to fight another day.

March 20th 1942 British Convoy PQ13 sets sail for Russia but comes under fire from German U-Boats. Five of the 19 ships are lost. March 28th 234 RAF bombers drop incendiaries on Lubeck. 12 aircraft are lost. March 28th The British utilize the "Gee" electronic navigation system for the first time. April 1st The Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo enters the Bay of Bengal. April 1st - May 31st 1942 Over a two month period, German forces are resupplied and strengthened before a major offensive - Operation Bustard - to remove the Soviets from the Kerch peninsula. Among the resupply deliveries are 33 massive artillery pieces meant to destroy the Soviet defensive works at the fort in Sevastopol. April 3rd No fewer than five Japanese Navy aircraft carriers reach the Indian Ocean. April 4th 1942 A small contingent of British Royal Navy vessels operating in the Indian Ocean are warned of the arriving Japanese Navy force. April 4th Admiral Sir James Somerville detaches a force to intercept the arriving Japanese fleet.

April 5th Hitler issues the official Fuhrer Directive for Operation Blue. April 6th 1942 The Imperial Japanese Navy unleashes a surprise attack, with some 120 aircraft, on British forces at Columbo Harbor, Ceylon. April 6th Twenty-six Allied aircraft are destroyed. April 6th 1942 The British Royal Navy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire are sunk by the Japanese air strike. April 6th The British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Tenedos is sunk by the Japanese air strike. April 9th The HMS Hermes is one of four Royal Navy ships sunk by Japanese Navy aircraft. April 9th American forces fighting on the Bataan Peninsula finally surrender to the Japanese. April 9th An 85-strong Japanese Navy aircraft contingent attacks airfields and targets of opportunity at Trincomalee, Ceylon. April 30th 1942 Spring over Russia brings about seasonal rains turning once solid and dependable ground into a muddy nightmare for both armies. As such, offensives are limited or stalled altogether. April 30th German Army forces partially regroup and recover from the constant barrage of Soviet offensives.

April 30th 1942 By this time, over 1 million German soldiers have been killed in action since the start of Operation Barbarossa. May 3rd 1942 American intelligence intercepts various Japanese communications and is able to piece together the intention to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea. May 3rd 1942 An Imperial Japanese Navy carrier force sets sail on patrol around the Solomons looking for American carrier battle groups. May 3rd 1942 Forces of the Imperial Japanese Army land at Tulagi of the Solomons island group. Subsequent develop ensures a base of operations for Japanese logistics in the region. May 4th The Japanese invasion force leaves Rabaul, New Britain, heading towards Port Moresby, New Guinea. May 4th 1942 USS Yorktown launched strike aircraft south of Guadalcanal. At 6:30AM, the American Navy aircraft spot and subsequently target Japanese land emplacements and sea vessels in the area. May 5th - May 6th Foul weather limits detection of either carrier force across a two day span.

May 5th 1942 The Japanese enact an offensive to take Corregidor Island, a strategic point providing access to Manila Bay. May 6th Corregidor Island falls to the Japanese, giving the invaders control over Manila Bay. May 7th The USS Neosho and the USS Sims are sunk by Japanese aircraft. May 7th The Japanese invasion of Port Moresby is called off. May 7th 1942 Allied Task Force 44, headed by Royal Navy Rear-Admiral Crace, moves in to intercept the Japanese invasion force. However, the force is prematurely spotted by Japanese reconnaissance aircraft resulting in a counter-assault of the Task Force by Japanese Navy warplanes. Crace and his force never make the intercept. May 7th The Allies spot the Japanese Covering Group escorting the invasion force. May 7th 1942 The USS Lexington and the USS Yorktown launch their attack planes and sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho in the process. May 8th At 6:10PM, the USS Lexington is a complete loss. She is scuttled and sunk.

May 8th By 6:00PM that evening, nearly all of the USS Lexington's sailors have been rescued. May 8th 1942 German General Manstein leads his 11th Army onto the Kerch Peninsula towards the city of Sevastopol. May 8th Lieutenant-General von Manstein launches his assault. May 8th The Japanese invasion force heads back to New Britain. May 8th 1942 Some 27 Japanese aircraft are launched under the cover of darkness in the hopes of locating the Allied Task Force. They come up empty and only six aircraft return safely home. May 8th Just past dawn, the Japanese and American carrier groups spot one another. May 8th At 9:25AM, Japanese and American warplanes take to the skies. May 8th 1942 At 2:47PM, the American carrier USS Lexington is hit by a Japanese torpedo, causing a major explosion in her generator room. May 8th 1942 At 11:40AM, US Navy warplanes manage to score devastating hits to the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, severely damaging her.

May 9th Despite numbers against him, Japanese Vice-Admiral Takagi is ordered to send his warplanes aloft. May 9th 1942 The Japanese aircraft do not locate the American fleet and any further actions are called off, effectively ending the Battle of Coral Sea. May 12th Soviet ground forces launch a pre-emptive offensive against German-held Kharkov. May 12th German forces enact Operation Fridericus and attempt to take Izyum. May 14th 1942 The convoy system is formally adopted by the United States in an effort to protect its merchant shipping in the Atlantic. May 15th Sevastopol is cutt off from the rest of the Soviet Union by German Army elements. May 15th Manstein's offensive results in the taking of the Kerch peninsula from the Soviets. May 15th Burma falls to the Japanese. May 15th Manstein begins planning his next major offensive to take Sevastopol - this becomes Operation Sturgeon. May 20th The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division begins training for Operation Rutter on the Isle of Wight.

May 25th 1942 A large Imperial Japanese Naval force sails for Japan towards Midway Island. The force Is made up of four task forces. One is charged with the invasion of the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska while the other three are to take Midway Island itself and assail the responding USN fleet. One group contains the required four aircraft carriers. May 26th 1942 Group Cruewell, made up of the Italian X and XI Corps, launches an assault on the northern portion of the Gazala Line in an attempt to divert Allied forces from the real attack coming from the south. May 26th 1942 Rommel begins his offense against the Gazala Line, made up of some 50 miles of British defenses. May 26th 1942 Beginning at 7:00PM, the German 90th Infantry Division, the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions and the Italian XX Corps under Rommel launch their offensive along the southern portion of the Gazala Line. May 27th German forces south of Bir Hacheim make progress and begin to move northwards.

May 27th The 1st Free French Brigade at Bir Hacheim holds off the German progress. May 28th The final Imperial Japanese Task Force leaves mainland Japan. May 28th While trying to take Sidra Ridge, German Panzer force casaulties begin to mount significantly. May 30th 1942 RAF Bomber Command attack Cologne with 1,046 aircraft in the first of their "1,000 Bomber" raids. May 31st Rommel orders his forces to begin defensive preparations across a 10 mile stretch. May 31st 1942 As the Allied defense along the Gazala line holds, Rommel is forced to change tactics, now concentrating his forces against the British 150th Brigade near Sidi Muftah. June 1st - June 30th 1942 June of 1942 marks the single worst month of Allied shipping losses, totaling some 834,000 tons of goods at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. June 1st Nearly 30% of German tanks have been lost in Rommel's offensive.

June 1st - June 3rd A German pocket develops near Sidi Muftah. June 2nd 600 German artillery guns open fire on Sevastopol. June 3rd 1942 The Northern Task Force begins its operation to take the Aleutian Island chain and divert USN forces to the region. June 4th 1942 At 5:00PM, the Imperial Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu is set ablaze after being struck by no fewer than five direct bomb hits from aircraft of the USS Enterprise. June 4th At 9:00AM, USS Yorktown launches her aircraft with Nagumo's carrier force as the prime target. June 4th 1942 By 3:00PM, the crew of the USS Yorktown has abandoned their carrier. The damaged vessel is towed by USN ships. June 4th By 2:30PM, the USS Yorktown is severely damaged but does not sink. June 4th At 12:00PM, Imperial Japanese Navy bomber aircraft strike against the attacking USS Yorktown.

June 4th The three Japanese carriers - Kaga, Soryu and Akagi - are struck with bombs and ultimately sunk. June 4th 1942 At 10:25AM, a follow-up strike made up of 37 Dauntless dive bombers finds the Japanese carriers - now stocked with armed and fueled aircraft on their decks. June 4th The initial American assault on the Japanese carrier strike force is over by 10:00AM. June 4th 1942 All incoming USN Devastator attackers are shot down by Japanese Zero fighters in the span of six minutes. June 4th The first wave of USN carrier dive-bombers has difficulty in locating their Japanese targets. June 4th 1942 At 9:18AM, Nagumo reacts to the American presence and changes the course of his Carrier Strike Force. June 4th 1942 Between 9:30AM and 10:00AM, Torpedo planes from the USS Enterprise and USS Hornet begin their attacks on the Japanese carriers.

June 4th 1942 At 8:37AM, aircraft of the second Japanese strike force returns to their respective carriers for rearming and refueling. June 4th At 8:20AM, a surprised Nagumo receives his first report of American carriers in the area. June 4th At 7:52AM, USS Enterprise and USS Hornet launch their dive bombers and torpedo planes. June 4th 1942 American fighter aircraft take heavy losses but force the Japanese Navy to launch a second attack. June 4th 1942 At 7:28AM, a Japanese reconniassance plane spots spots ten undetermined USN surface ships 200 miles northeast of the Japanese Midway invasion force. June 4th 1942 At 4:30AM, the bombing of Midway Island begins with aircraft from Vice-Admiral Nagumo's First Carrier Strike Force. June 5th The Japanese carrier Hiryu is scuttled. June 5th 1942 The Allies attempt an offensive to drive the German pocket back from Sidi Muftah and fail.

230 Allied tanks are lost in the attack. June 6th The island of Kiska is taken by Japanese forces. June 6th 1942 The USS Yorktown, now severely damaged and in tow of US Navy forces, is targeted and sunk by a Japanese submarine. June 6th 1942 The British 150th Brigade is utterly destroyed under the German assault, resulting in 4,000 British prisoners of war. June 6th The German Luftwaffe is called in to bomb Sevastopol. June 7th The island of Attu is taken by Japanese forces. June 7th 1942 The German artillery guns cease fire on Sevastopol. The bombardment on the Soviets has spanned five days. June 7th The German 11th Army begins their assault on Sevastopol from the north at 2:30AM. June 10th 1942 The 1st Free French Brigade at Bir Hacheim can hold no more and retreat under the mounting German pressure. June 11th The German Army breaks out of their pocket near Sidi Muftah.

June 11th The German-allied Romanian Mountain Corps and 30th Army Corps launch their attack on Sevastopol. June 11th 1942 German forces breaking out near Sidi Muftah target the British 7th Armored Division near El Adem. June 11th The Allies go into full retreat as the Germans advance. June 12th - June 16th 1942 The German offensive against Sevastopol is repulsed by the 180,000 or so Russian soldiers holed up in the city. June 17th Manstein launches another assault on Sevastopol. June 18th 1942 The city of Tobruk, defended by the 2nd South African Division, is completely surrounded by German forces. June 20th 1942 At 7:00PM, the German 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions have made it past Tobruk's first line of defense, making headway into the city. June 20th Artillery shells and Luftwaffe bombs rain upon Tobruk.

June 20th Rommel begins his offensive against the defenders in Tobruk. June 21st 1942 The 2nd South African Division under Allied General Klopper officially concede defeat and hand control of Tobruk to the Germans. June 27th 1942 The Soviet Army is encircled and defeated at Kharkov, netting the Germans some 250,000 Soviet prisoners. June 27th German forces complete their capture of Izyum. June 27th - July 28th Convoy PQ17 loses 34 of its 36 ships to Geman U-Boats and surface ships. June 27th British convoy PQ17 sets sail from Reykjavik, Iceland. June 27th The Romanian and German army forces capture key hilltop positions near Sevastopol. June 28th The German Army turns its attention towards the Volga. June 28th The German 2nd Army and 4th Panzer Army launch their attack towards Voronezh near Kursk.

June 28th By this date, over 90% of the Soviet defensive fortifications have fallen to the Germans. June 28th German forces reach the outskirts of Sevastopol. June 30th 1942 Evacuation of Russian soldiers from Sevastopol begins with help from the Soviet Black Sea Fleet under Vice-Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky. June 30th German General Paulus attacks at Belgorod. July 1st - July 31st 1942 The Allies received word on the construction of a strategic Japanese airfield (Henderson Field) on the island of Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands. As such, plans are set in motion to curtail construction of the endeavor. US Navy and Marine forces spring into action. July 1st - July 22nd 1942 The First Battle of El Alamein takes place with Erwin Rommel hoping to put a dent in the Allied defense near El Alamain. Rommel's forces consist of his Afrika Corps and three Italian troop corps.

July 1st German General Erwin Rommel attempts to break through the Allied defensive perimeter at El Alamein. July 1st One last German push secures strategic positions throughout the city of Sevastopol. July 1st - July 31st 1942 Hitler orders two directives in the operation against Leningrad. The first calls for its immediate encirclement and the second for its immediate destruction from land and air. July 2nd The Soviet city of Sevastopol officially falls to the Germans. July 2nd 1942 The last of the Soviet forces are evacuated by sea leaving little to stop the German onslaught. July 3rd The Allies put up a stubborn defense, repelling Rommel's offensive. July 4th Sevastopol officially falls to German control. July 4th 1942 German control and the subsequent round up on the city nets some 90,000 Soviet army prisoners of war. July 6th The German 6th Army reaches the Don River. July 6th The Soviet city of Voronezh falls to the German Army. July 6th The German 6th Army moves on Stalingrad.

July 7th 1942 This date is set aside for Operation Rutter - the amphibious landing at the port city of Dieppe in occupied France. July 7th 1942 Bad weather cancels this original date for Operation Rutter. Discussions begin on whether or not to nix the entire endeavor. It returns to the planning stages under a new name - Operation Jubilee. July 7th 1942 German General Field Marshal List takes command of the new Army Goup A, made up of the 1st Panzer Army and the 17th Army. July 9th The German Army begins its move towards Rostov. July 9th 1942 German Army Group South is renamed Army Group B and placed under the control of Field Marshal von Bock. July 13th Adolf Hitler assigns General Paulus and his 6th Army to take Stalingrad. July 13th General von Weichs takes control of Army Group B from Bock. July 17th Hitler diverts the 4th Panzer Army away from Stalingrad and sends them towards the Caucasus.

July 19th 1942 German U-boats off the eastern coast of the US are relocated to better assault the merchant fleets streaming across the Atlantic. July 21st Japanese Major General Horii and his 18th Army land near Buna. July 22nd Major General Horii and his 18th Army march towards Port Moresby. July 22nd The Japanese Army gain ground on the US, Australian and Papuan Infantry Regiment defenders. July 23rd 1942 Rostov falls to the German Army Group A, netting some 83,000 Soviet prisoners as a result. July 23rd Hitler issues a supplemental directive to Operation Blue requiring his 6th Army to take Stalingrad. July 28th 1942 The macabre resolution of "not one step backwards" is issued by Stalin to his generals and troops. August 1st 1942 De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito twin-engine fighters are assigned as "Pathfinder" units charged with lighting up ground targets via flares and incendiary ordnance for ensuing RAF heavy bombers.

August 1st - August 30th Churchill replaces 8th Army leader Major-General Neil Ritchie with General Bernard Montgomery. August 1st - August 30th 1942 German forces are strengthened by the arrival of another Italian division, a German parachute brigade and more tanks. August 1st - August 30th British Prime Minister relieves General Auchinleck with General Harold Alexander as Commander-in-Chief, Middle East. August 1st - August 31st 1942 Any further convoys passing to the Arctic to Russia are suspended for the time being as resources are pressed for service in the Allied landings occurring in North Africa. August 4th Elements of the German Army cross the Aksay River towards Stalingrad. August 6th The German Army crosses the Kuban River near Armavir. August 6th US Navy and Marine forces position themselves near Guadalcanal. August 7th Elements of the German Army attack Soviet forces near Kalach. August 7th Amphibious forces spearheaded by the United States Marines begin against the Japanese-held island of Guadalcanal. August 8th The amphibious landings largely conclude by this date.

August 8th Just outside of Guadalcanal, the islands of Tulagi and Gavutu fall to the Allies. August 8th Japanese bombers attack US forces at Henderson Field. August 8th 1942 By the end of the day and facing next to no opposition, the US soldiers capture and secure Henderson Field. August 8th 1942 A large contingent of Imperial Japanese Navy warships heads out of Rabaul towards Savo Island to strike at US Navy transports there. August 8th 1942 Naval battles ultimately ensure between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States Navy for control of Guadalcanal. August 9th 1942 Three US and one Australian cruiser are sunk by the Japanese Navy during the morning hours. August 9th 1942 The German German Army captures the strategic port of Yeysk and Krasnador on the Sea of Azov. August 9th Army Group A captures the Maikop oil field on the Black Sea. August 14th The Japanese Army gains vital territory leading up and into the Owen Stanley Range. August 14th German forces cross the Kuban river near Krasnador.

August 14th The Japanese Army takes control of the village of Kokoda. August 14th The Japanese Army reaches Isurava just outside of Port Moresby. August 18th 1942 A Japanese counteroffensive sees an amphibious landing take place at Taivu. This landing zone is just 32 miles east of Henderson Field. August 19th 1942 By 2:00 PM, all survivors of the Dieppe invasion have been rescued. Left behind are 3,367 casualties, wounded, prisoners of war or missing. August 19th 1942 By 11:00 AM, disaster has completely befallen the invaders. Many are trapped, forced back or dead to a prepared German defense. August 19th 1942 At 5:35 AM, Allied armor makes it to the beach. Over half of the tanks are lost in the action. August 19th - September 30th A Soviet offensive aimed at smashing through the German lines fails.

August 19th 1942 At 3:48 AM, several Allied invasion vessels run into a German convoy, which actively engages the ships, ruining any chance the Allies held in the element of surprise. This event is a fore-telling of the day to follow. August 19th 1942 At 4:30 AM, Canadian soldiers wade ashore and take on the German coastal batteries at Berneval, Puys, Pourville and Varengville. August 19th This date is targeted for Operation Jubilee. August 19th 1942 At 5:20 AM, the main invasion force - made up of the 14th Army Tank Regiment, the Essex Scottish Regiment, and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry - come ashore. August 19th 1942 4,962 Canadian soldiers, along with 1,000 British troops and a 50-man contingent of American US Army Rangers set sail on no fewer than 237 boats towards Dieppe. August 19th Operation Jubilee is officially put into action.

August 19th 1942 German General Paulus and his 6th Army is ordered to attack the Soviet city of Stalingrad. August 20th The first of thirty-one US fighter aircraft arrive at Henderson Field. August 21st 1942 Japanese ground forces attempt attacks against Henderson Field and American forces at Tenaru. The Japanese troops make little headway and are themselves encircled. August 21st Nazi-allied French leader Marshal Petain celebrates the German victory over the Allied invasion at Dieppe. August 22nd 1942 The Japanese attackers at Henderson Field and Tenaru are ultimately destroyed, forcing Colonel Ichiki to commit ritual suicide. August 22nd German land forces advancing into the Caucasus are stopped. August 23rd 1942 US naval patrol aircraft spot the incoming Japanese convoy, radioing positions back to the main task force. August 23rd 1942 The Imperial Japanese Navy enacts a plan to resupply their forces at Guadalcanal under the cover of three aircraft carriers made up of the IJN Ryujo, the IJN Shokaku and the IJN Zuikaku.

August 23rd Army Group B reaches the Volga River. August 23rd The Battle of the Eastern Solomons begins. August 24th The US Navy claims a Japanese aircraft carrier. The carrier is attacked and sunk. August 24th 1942 The Japanese Navy lose their seaplane carrier - the IJN Chitose - to American dive bombers at 5:40PM. August 24th 1942 At about 4:41PM, the USS Enterprise is the victim of Japanese dive bombers and takes several direct hits but manages to keep fighting. August 24th 1942 Dive bombers and torpedo bombers from the USS Enterprise manage critical hits against the IJN Ryujo and sink here where she stood at 3:50PM. August 24th At 3:15PM, American carrier aircaft from the USS Enterprise manage hits on the IJN Shokaku. August 24th 1942 Task Force 61, comprised of the USS Enterprise, USS Saratoga and the USS Wasp head to intercept the Japanese convoy.

August 24th 1942 US naval patrol aircraft once again spot the incoming Japanese convoy. Positions are sent to Task Force 61. August 24th 1942 Task Force 61 sets up at locations east of Malaita Island in preparation for the battle. Aircraft are launched form the American carriers beginning what is known as the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. August 25th Stalingard is officially under siege by the Germans Army. August 25th 1942 The Japanese Navy completes an amphibious landing at Milne Bay to establish a beachhead and open a second front on New Guinea. August 25th The Japanese Navy loses a pair of transport ships enroute to the Solomon Island chain. August 25th 1942 The Battle of the Eastern Solomons ends with the Japanese Navy claiming at least 90 aircraft lost while the American Navy enjoys victory with 20 aircraft lost in the fray. August 26th 1942 The 18th Australian Brigade, utilizing valuable intelligence reports, meet the arriving Japanese amphibious forces head-on and hold the Japanese beachhead at Milne Bay.

August 29th 1942 A further 600 Japanese Army soldiers are landed at Milne Bay to help strengthen the beachhead. August 30th 1942 Rommel begins a new offensive starting from Bab el Qattara that becomes the Battle of Alam Halfa near El Alamein. The objective is the high ridge at Alam Halfa some 13 miles through the Allied defensive perimeter in the south. August 30th 1942 American General Douglas MacArthur employs his superiors for additional firepower and troop strength to help hold Papua. August 31st 1942 By this date, the Japanese have completed their takeovers of the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Marianas Islands and a portion of the Solomon Islands. This is the farthest that the Japanese Empire would reach in the Pacific. September 1st - September 30th German progress throughout the Casucasus is slowed by Soviet resistance and fuel/supply shortages. September 1st Germany Army elements, backed by Romanians cross the Kerch Straits. September 1st The Germans establish a bridgehead over the Terek River.

September 1st - September 30th The month is spent ironing out plans for the Allied invasion of German-occupied North Africa. September 2 1942 Rommel's assault is thwarted, his tank forces suffering high losses in the attack - and his army is pushed back to Bab el Qattara. Setember 2nd - September 26th Convoy PQ18 reaches Russia despite losing 13 of her ships. September 2nd 1942 Convoy PQ18 sets sail for Russia, comprised of some 40 ships and beefed up protection through 17 destroyers. The escort carrier HMS Avenger provides air cover. September 3rd - October 23rd 1942 General Montgomery decides to make El Alamein a war of numbers and stockpiles his supplies to eventually try to overwhelm the Germans. September 3rd The Germans enact an offensive aimed at the heart of Stalingrad. September 4th 1942 With the Allied resistance holding off further advance, the Japanese Army begins a formal withdrawal of the island. September 4th Japanese casualties at Milne Bay amount to 1,000 killed amidst the fighting.

September 6th The strategic Black Sea port city Novorossiysk falls to the Germans. September 7th US Marines enact a surprise amphibious landing against Japanese strongholds at Taivu. September 8th 1942 The US Marine landings result in the destruction of vital Japanese supplies and the recovery of important operational data. September 10th 100,000 incendiary bombs are dropped on Dusseldorf by no fewer than 476 RAF bombers. September 12th 1942 Some 6,000 Japanese Army personnel are used in a final thrust against the Americans at Henderson field. Among the attackers is the Japanese 35th Brigade. September 13th 1942 Japanese forces come within a half-a-mile of Henderson Field before being stopped and, ultimately, driven back. September 14th 1942 At the end of the Henderson Field offensive, the fanatical Japanese have lost at least 1,200 soldiers in the fighting. September 15th - October 7th The Japanese begin building up their forces to reclaim Henderson Field.

September 15th The Soviet Army is unleashed on Voronezh. September 24th The German Army makes headway toward Tuapse. September 25th 1942 With winter upon the German Army once more, Hitler orders a halt to any major offensives around Leningrad. September 26th 1942 Despite gains along the Kokoda Trail, the Japanese supply line begins to run thin and halt any further advance. September 26th Australian Army forces hold fast to territory near Toribaiwa. September 26th 1942 The Japanese Army slowly begins to retreat back through the Kokoda Trail, finally realizing its perilous stuation. October 1st - October 31st 1942 With a lull in the fighting, Soviet forces near Leningrad are able to receive much needed supplies and reinforcements. October 6th Malgobek falls to the German Army. October 9th The Soviet government hands all military powers to the Soviet Army. October 10th 1942 Japanese reinforcements are shipped to the west and disembarked at Tenaro, some 20 miles from American forces.

October 11th The IJN Furutaka officially sinks at 12:40AM. October 11th 1942 At midnight, the Japanese convoy is in retreat and gone from the region in roughly 30 minutes. October 11th 1942 At 11:32PM, US Navy warships fire upon IJN vessels in the convoy, sinking the IJN Fubuki and damaging the IJN Furutaka and IJN Aoba, which themselves begin sinking. October 11th 1942 A Japanese Navy convoy headed through the Eastern and Western Solomons is intercepted by a US Navy force, beginning what is known as the Battle of Cape Esperance. October 15th 1942 American soldiers of the 32nd US Division complete an amphibious assault near Pongani and Wanigela on Papua. October 18th The German drive against Tuapse is stopped by the Soviets.

October 23rd 1942 Some 20,000 Japanese fighters, including elements of the 2nd Division and 17th Army, undertake a new offensive under the direction of General Maruyama. October 23rd XXX and X Corps begin their assault on Axis nothern positions. October 23rd 1942 At 10:00PM, British XIII Corps hits the German 21st Panzer Division and Italian Brescia and Folgore Divisions in the south of the German defensive wall as a diversion to its north-bound actions. October 23rd The Allied counter-offensive begins through Operation Lightfoot, a massive artillery bombardment of dug-in German forces. October 14th 1942 Adolf Hitler stops all further offensives against Soviet targets in the region for the year and orders his commanders to hold their positions until 1943. October 25th 1942 Japanese Navy supply ships make their way offshore of Guadalcanal where land forces there are attempting to take Henderson Field. October 25th Four Allied brigades have managed to break through the German defensive lines.

October 25th The Germans enact a new offensive in the Caucasus. October 25th 1942 Montgomery enacts Operation Supercharge and pulls some diversionary forces from his southern attacks to reinforce the north where losses continue to mount. October 25th Allied mine-clearing operations begin while combat continues October 26th 1942 A USN Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat scout plane spots the Japanese waterforce and relays their position. October 26th 1942 USS Enterprise launches a wave of Dauntless dive bombers in search of the Japanese group. Some 22 total aircraft are launched. October 26th 1942 A PBY Catalina, capable of limited bombing, misses its mark as it attempts to hit several Japanese aircraft carriers at 2:50AM. October 26th The IJN carrier launch around 110 aircraft in response. October 26th 72 aircraft are launched as a combined force from USS Enterprise and USS Hornet. October 26th The USS Hornet is cleared of all crew by 11:40AM.

October 26th 1942 After some 3,500 casualties are netted against the Japanese attackers, the offensive stalls and is ultimately called off. October 26th US Navy and IJN aircraft formally meet in air to air combat by 8:15AM. October 26th 1942 The USS Hornet takes a critical hit at 9:15AM from attacking Japanese Navy dive bombers and torpedo bombers. The IJN forces claim two torpedo hits and a further six bomb hits against her. October 26th The crew of the USS Hornet begin evacuation procedures aboard their doomed ship. October 26th 1942 The crippled IJN carrier Zuiho is hit by another four bombs, bringing her tenure at sea to an official close at 9:18AM. October 26th 1942 US Navy aircraft are launched from USS Enterprise and USS Hornet but fail to locate the Japanese ships. October 26th The Americans signal a withdrawal of all forces form the battle. October 26th The US Navy sends Task Force 16 and 17 to intercept the Japanese resupply action.

October 26th At 7:40AM, USN dive bombers damage the IJN carrier Zuiho. October 26th 1942 USS Enterprise receives several direct hits from IJN dive bombers against her flight deck and forward elevator. October 26th USN bombers score several key direct hits against the carrier IJN Shokaku at 9:30AM. October 27th 1942 Destroyers of the IJN come across the remains of the USS Hornet and launch torpedoes against her, sending her to the bottom of the Pacific. November 1st Japanese Army troops have taken to reinforcing their existing defenses at Buna, Gona and Sanananda. November 1st The Caucasus town of Alagir is captured by the Germans. November 1st - January 31st 1942 Neither force can claim much action during this span. In time, US forces number some 58,000 troops while Japan can claim 20,000-strong. November 2nd The Caucasus town of Ordzhonikidse is captured by the Germans.

November 2nd 1942 As more and more Allied armor crosses through the German perimeter, Rommel orders his battle-weary forces on an eastward retreat, keeping his forces within easy access to the North African coast. November 4th 1942 British X Corps makes a substantial gain in capturing Tel el Aqqaqir, running straight through the beleagured Axis lines, effectively ending the Battle of El Alamain in favor of the Allies. The victory is a major one for the Germans are in full retreat throughout North Africa. The action officially ends all Axis presence on the continent. November 7th 1942 Three Allied task forces - the US Western, Central and the British Eastern - approach the coast of North Africa. November 8th At Oran, French coastal guns destroya US transport with 200 soldiers aboard. November 8th The US Western and Central task forces tangle with Vichy French opposition. November 8th French General Mast surrenders to the British Eastern Task Force. November 8th The Allied invasion forces reach North African shores. November 9th The first French cease-fires begin to ring out across Algeria and Morocco.

November 9th 1942 US forces tangle with a suprisingly stout French defense. It was believed that the two country's histories would have brought France to surrender rather than fight a former ally. November 11th 1942 French Admiral Jean Francios Darlan joins French General Alphonse Juin in calling an all-out cease fire for French forces throughout Africa. November 11th The British Eastern Task force capture the strategic airfield at Djidjelli via Bougie from Algiers. November 12th British paratroopers land near Bone and take the nearby airfield. November 12th German paratrooper forces attack the British paratroopers near Bone but are repelled. November 12th German paratroopers move into the area near the airfield at Bone. November 15th Australian forces continue their march from the west against Japanese-held areas. November 15th US forces continue their march from the south against Japanese-held areas. November 15th Army Group A reaches as far as Ordzhonikidze and Mt. Elbus.

November 15th American paratroopers land at the airfield near Youks les Bains November 16th Allied forces begin their move into German-held Tunisia. November 16th British paratroopers land and capture the airfield at Soul el Arba. November 17th The Allies take Sidi Nsir. November 19th 1942 The Soviets push forward a new two-part offensive - Operation Uranus - north of Stalingrad and break through the Romanian-held defenses. November 20th The Allied assault on the strategic city of Medjez el Bab begins. November 20th German General Manstein is appointed the commander of Army Group Don. November 20th Part 2 of Operation Uranus is enacted at the southern end of Stalingrad. November 22nd 1942 Two elements of the Soviet Army meets at Kalach, effectively encircling the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. November 25th 1942 In an effort to resupply their troops, the German Luftwaffe is called upon to exercise airdrops of vital supplies to the German 6th Army.

November 26th Medjez el Bab falls to the Allies. November 30th 1942 Despite the consistent progression throughout North Africa, the Allied invasion offensive grounds to a halt in the face of growing German resistance at key junctions. The total liberation of North Africa will have to wait. November 30th 1942 German General Paulus and his 6th Army is contained by the fierce resisting Soviets in Stalingrad, putting Hitler's plans on hold. December 9th The Australian Army liberates the village of Gona from the hold of the Japanese Amry. December 12th 1942 While Hitler rejects any plea from the German 6th Army to retreat from their position, the 4th Panzer Army is used through Operation Winter Storm in an attempt to relieve the beleaguered German troops at Stalingrad. December 14th 1942 Allied Australian and US forces continued their maches against the Japanese, taking territory through fierce firefights. December 16th The Italian Army goes into full retreat from the Soviet advance. December 16th German Army forces are called off from further offensives at Tuapse.

December 16th The Soviet Army puts Operation Little Saturn into effect and attacks Rostov. December 21st Soviet relief forces and supplies headed for Stalingrad are stopped at Myshkova. December 23rd All further attempts to relieve Stalingrad are put on hold, indefinitely. December 24th 1942 The Soviet Army launches a fresh attack at Kotelnikovo, routing its Romanian defenders and putting them into full retreat. December 28th German Army Group A is given the official order to retreat from the Caucasus region. December 31st 1942 The Battle of Barents Sea takes place. Convoy JW51B comes under attack from German surface ships comrpised of the battleships KMS Admiral Hipper and KMS Lutzow along with 6 destroyers. Six British destroyers are up to the task as they repel the much larger force at the cost of two Royal Navy destroyers. No merchant vessels are lost to enemy fire. The loss in battle forces the resignation of German Navy Admiral Raeder and leaves Adolph Hitler hungry for blood. By Engagement

Question: What wartime position did General Montgomery assume in 1942?
Answer: Commander-in-Chief, Middle East